Ana­log De­vices an­nounced the com­ple­tion of its ac­qui­si­tion of Em­power Semi­con­duc­tor. The com­bi­na­tion fur­ther strength­ens ADI’s po­si­tion as a lead­ing strate­gic, sys­tem-level grid-to-core power part­ner across the en­tire AI ecosys­tem, ex­pand­ing ADI’s total ad­dress­able mar­ket and ca­pa­bil­i­ties in AI com­pute power de­liv­ery.

"Today marks an exciting milestone as we welcome the Empower team to ADI and take an important step forward in solving one of the most complex challenges in modern electronics – power delivery for the AI era," said Vincent Roche, CEO and Chair at ADI. "AI infrastructure is fundamentally reshaping how power must be delivered, with energy now one of the most persistent constraints to scaling next-generation systems. Empower's breakthrough technology is designed to directly address this bottleneck, unlocking new levels of efficiency and performance for AI processors. Leveraging ADI’s technology and scale, we will help customers rearchitect their power systems and achieve the compute densities next-generation AI demands. The impact will extend well beyond AI data centers to any domain where energy constrains what is possible."
 

Westermo, in partnership with Eviden has won the DB InfraGO Rail Data Transfer Challenge, an innovation program by DB mindbox, the startup hub of Deutsche Bahn Group. The win was preceded by a multi-stage evaluation process and a final on-site demonstration under real railway conditions. The combined solution, based on multi-gigabit mmWave technology, demonstrated high-performance wireless data transfer between train and ground infrastructure and as a result secured the top position among competing approaches.

The Rail Data Transfer Challenge attracted 19 international submissions. The process began with initial concept submissions, from which five teams were selected. These teams then took part in DB’s virtual “challenge days”, working closely with Deutsche Bahn experts to refine their concepts and align them with real use cases. After final concept presentations, three teams progressed to the on-site demonstration stage in Minden. There, solutions were tested under comparable real-world railway conditions, with a strong focus on performance and robustness of wireless technologies. Westermo and Eviden emerged as winners based on the strength of their results and overall system approach.

Solving a critical bottleneck in digital rail infrastructure

Modern inspection trains generate up to 10 Terabytes of data per day, including high-resolution video, images, sensor, and infrastructure data, which must be transferred within limited stabling times. DB InfraGO’s challenge focused on identifying scalable solutions capable of transferring these volumes wirelessly within a few hours, reliably and without manual intervention. At the demonstration stage in Minden, the  winners showcased a solution specifically designed for train-to-ground data offloading in depot and yard environments.
The approach combines Blu Wireless’ patented mmWave technology for multi-gigabit wireless transmission with Westermo’s railway-grade networking expertise for robust and secure operation. Eviden contributed data pre- and post-processing capabilities, ensuring efficient handling, preparation, and integrity of the transferred data within the overall solution. In the live test scenario, the solution achieved data transfer rates of up to 2.4 Gbps in a single stream, confirming its ability to handle large-scale data transfer in realistic conditions. mmWave technology provides the high bandwidth and low latency required for such applications, making it well suited for transferring large data volumes within tight operational timeframes.

Next step: 100-day proof of concept

Following the successful demonstration, the consortium will now enter the next phase with DB InfraGO and DB mindbox: a 100-day proof of concept, focusing on further system integration and validation in operational railway environments. This next phase will provide the foundation for potential future deployment across multiple depots and train fleets.
 

AW-Lake and KEM Flow Measurement announced that the two companies are formally coming together as one organization, marking an important milestone in the evolution of two respected names in industrial flow measurement.

The merger builds on more than 40 years of collaboration between AW-Lake and KEM Flow Measurement. As sister companies under TASI Measurement, KEM Flow Measurement in Germany and AW-Lake in the United States have long worked closely together to deliver the same products, quality, performance, and technical support customers rely on across demanding industrial applications.

Customers will benefit from expanded engineering resources, deeper application expertise, broader flow measurement capabilities, and stronger global support. By bringing together the strengths of AW-Lake and KEM Flow Measurement, the combined organization is better equipped to help customers solve complex measurement challenges while continuing to deliver the quality, responsiveness, and technical guidance they rely on. 

“This merger brings together two organizations with complementary strengths and a long history of working together successfully.” stated Georg Happach, Managing Director, KEM Flow Measurement. “By aligning more closely as one business, we are creating a stronger global foundation for long-term growth. It is an important step that will allow us to serve our customers with broader capabilities and a clearer, more unified direction for the future.”

As part of the transition, the combined organization will progressively align under the KEM Flow Measurement brand, while continuing to build on the strong heritage, expertise, and customer relationships established by AW-Lake. This evolution reflects the next stage in aligning the organizations under one unified global brand while building on the strengths, expertise, and trusted relationships that both companies have established.

Over the coming months, customers and partners will begin to see updated branding featuring both AW-Lake and KEM Flow Measurement as the organization moves toward one unified brand. 

With a stronger global footprint, expanded technical resources, and a unified commitment to customer success, the merged organization is positioned to become a global center of excellence in industrial flow measurement — delivering high-performance solutions, deep application expertise, and reliable support to customers.
 

Hu­manoid ro­bots are cur­rently leav­ing the re­search labs and are ready to take the first step into in­dus­trial de­ploy­ment. This shifts the de­ci­sive chal­lenge: from a work­ing pro­to­type to re­li­able se­ries pro­duc­tion, while en­sur­ing the high­est qual­ity stan­dards and low main­te­nance costs. This is ex­actly where the part­ner­ship comes in - at the ac­tu­a­tion level, which de­ter­mines pre­ci­sion, safety, and scal­a­bil­ity in every hu­manoid joint.

Two com­pe­ten­cies, one sys­tem

The part­ners' roles com­ple­ment each other per­fectly: Synap­ti­con de­liv­ers the in­tel­li­gence of the ac­tu­a­tor - soft­ware, func­tional safety, elec­tron­ics, sen­sor de­sign, and the drive tech­nol­ogy. Sta­bilus con­tributes me­chan­i­cal de­sign, sourc­ing, in­dus­tri­al­iza­tion, man­u­fac­tur­ing, as­sem­bly, and lo­gis­tics. For the au­to­mo­tive in­dus­try alone, Sta­bilus has al­ready de­liv­ered mil­lions of electro­mechan­i­cal ac­tu­a­tors. It is only the in­ter­play of both com­pe­ten­cies that turns in­di­vid­ual com­po­nents into a pro­duc­tion-ready, scal­able prod­uct.

The joint prod­uct line cov­ers hu­manoid joints across all size classes - from head and wrist joints to hips and knees. From the out­set, man­u­fac­tur­ing is de­signed for high-vol­ume pro­duc­tion, mod­eled on au­to­mo­tive man­u­fac­tur­ing and qual­ity stan­dards.

“Hu­manoid ro­bots need ac­tu­a­tors that bring to­gether mo­tion con­trol, safety, and high-vol­ume man­u­fac­tur­ing from day one,” says Simon Fischinger, CEO of Synap­ti­con. “With Sta­bilus, we gain a part­ner that has been man­u­fac­tur­ing pre­ci­sion me­chan­ics in au­to­mo­tive qual­ity and vol­ume for decades. To­gether, we are tak­ing the ac­tu­a­tion level of hu­manoid ro­bots from pro­to­type to se­ries pro­duc­tion.”

“Hu­manoid ro­bot­ics is one of the most ex­cit­ing growth mar­kets of the com­ing decade. We have known Synap­ti­con for many years and are con­fi­dent that with this com­pany we have an out­stand­ing part­ner at our side for our ex­pan­sion into ro­bot­ics,” says David Sabet, Chief Tech­nol­ogy Of­fi­cer of Sta­bilus SE. “Synap­ti­con sets the stan­dard in ro­bot­ics for in­te­grated drive in­tel­li­gence and func­tional safety - ex­actly the com­pe­tence that com­ple­ments our man­u­fac­tur­ing and in­dus­tri­al­iza­tion strength to form a pro­duc­tion-ready over­all sys­tem. Our am­bi­tion is to take a key po­si­tion in the ac­tu­a­tion level of hu­manoid ro­bots. This part­ner­ship is an im­por­tant build­ing block of our growth strat­egy be­yond our es­tab­lished in­dus­tries.”

Pfeif­fer Vac­uum+Fab So­lu­tions, a mem­ber of the global Busch Group, cel­e­brates 60 years of leak de­tec­tion ex­per­tise. This mile­stone marks six decades since the com­mer­cial­iza­tion of the com­pany's first he­lium leak de­tec­tor, the ASM 4, and high­lights the con­tin­u­ous de­vel­op­ment of a port­fo­lio that has sup­ported de­mand­ing in­dus­trial and sci­en­tific ap­pli­ca­tions around the world.

The story began in An­necy, France, in the 1960s. A re­quest from a nu­clear re­search and de­vel­op­ment hub re­quired a highly sen­si­tive so­lu­tion for tight­ness test­ing in iso­tope en­rich­ment for nu­clear power plant fuel. Ex­ist­ing leak de­tec­tion meth­ods were not suf­fi­cient for the de­mand­ing process re­quire­ments, par­tic­u­larly be­cause the equip­ment had to pre­vent con­t­a­m­i­na­tion such as mois­ture. Draw­ing on strong vac­uum tech­nol­ogy know-how, the en­gi­neers de­vel­oped a new type of leak de­tec­tor based on mass spec­trom­e­try with he­lium as tracer gas: the ASM 4.

Vac­uum tech­nol­ogy as a dri­ver

As a vac­uum so­lu­tion man­u­fac­turer and sup­plier, Pfeif­fer has al­ways ben­e­fited from the close col­lab­o­ra­tion be­tween its vac­uum tech­nol­ogy and leak de­tec­tor de­vel­op­ment teams. This strong con­nec­tion has en­abled the leak de­tec­tor port­fo­lio to con­tin­u­ously in­te­grate tech­no­log­i­cal ad­vances from vac­uum gen­er­a­tion, help­ing to im­prove per­for­mance, clean­li­ness, and ro­bust­ness over time.

Early de­vel­op­ments fo­cused on more com­pact and eas­ier-to-use sys­tems, such as the ASM 10, while main­tain­ing high de­tec­tion sen­si­tiv­ity. In the 1980s, tur­bo­mol­e­c­u­lar vac­uum pumps re­placed dif­fu­sion vac­uum pumps and liq­uid ni­tro­gen traps, mak­ing leak de­tec­tors faster and more con­ve­nient to op­er­ate. In the 1990s, au­to­matic cal­i­bra­tion and dry pri­mary pump­ing were in­tro­duced to meet the spe­cific needs of in­dus­tries such as semi­con­duc­tor man­u­fac­tur­ing. The ASM 142 later be­came one of the most rec­og­nized leak de­tec­tors in the mar­ket, fol­lowed by fur­ther gen­er­a­tions de­signed for high per­for­mance, ease of use, and ro­bust­ness.

Re­li­able leak test­ing across in­dus­tries

Today, Pfeif­fer leak de­tec­tors are used wher­ever leak tight­ness is es­sen­tial for prod­uct qual­ity, process re­li­a­bil­ity, and safety. Ap­pli­ca­tions range from vac­uum-in­su­lated prod­ucts and med­ical de­vices to bat­tery man­u­fac­tur­ing, semi­con­duc­tor pro­duc­tion, in­dus­trial qual­ity as­sur­ance, main­te­nance and re­search and de­vel­op­ment. Whether com­po­nents must be pro­tected from mois­ture, con­t­a­m­i­na­tion, or process losses, tracer gas leak de­tec­tion pro­vides the sen­si­tiv­ity and re­li­a­bil­ity that are re­quired for de­mand­ing test en­vi­ron­ments.

In its an­niver­sary year, Pfeif­fer con­tin­ues this tra­di­tion of in­no­va­tion with the launch of the new ASM HVM. The mo­bile leak de­tec­tor is de­signed for re­li­able, high-sen­si­tiv­ity he­lium leak test­ing of medium test vol­umes in semi­con­duc­tor man­u­fac­tur­ing, R&D, and other in­dus­trial en­vi­ron­ments where mo­bil­ity, clean­li­ness, and fast test­ing are es­sen­tial. 

Com­bin­ing a tur­bo­mol­e­c­u­lar vac­uum pump with a dry scroll back­ing pump into a pow­er­ful sys­tem, the ASM HVM en­ables fast, oil-free test­ing and is suit­able for clean­room use. Its com­pact and er­gonomic de­sign, ro­tat­able and re­mov­able color touch dis­play, and in­te­grated tool­box sup­port ef­fi­cient leak de­tec­tion in dif­fer­ent test­ing areas. "Over the past 60 years, Pfeif­fer has con­tin­u­ously shaped the de­vel­op­ment of tracer gas leak de­tec­tion," says Clotilde Lesigne, Head of Prod­uct Man­age­ment Leak De­tec­tion at Pfeif­fer. "With the ASM HVM, we are build­ing on this ex­pe­ri­ence and ad­dress­ing today's cus­tomer needs for clean, mo­bile, er­gonomic, and high-per­for­mance leak test­ing so­lu­tions." 
 

IEN Europe: The EU Cyber Resilience Act will come into full effect in December 2027. There is just over a year to go until then. What are the most important steps on the path to compliance, and where should a company be today in order to face the deadline with a degree of confidence?
B. Günthner: Ultimately, the Cyber Resilience Act is not just a security project; it is a transformational project that will change the entire product development process. Many companies initially focus on individual technical requirements. However, in practice, it becomes apparent that the real challenge lies in rethinking processes, responsibilities, and the entire product lifecycle. In our view, companies should already have a clear overview of which of their products are affected by the CRA and which requirements they have yet to meet. Based on this, development processes must be adapted to 'secure-by-design' principles, vulnerability management must be implemented, and the groundwork for a comprehensive software bill of materials must be laid.

Update capability is also particularly important. The CRA requires not only the development of secure products, but also the ability to operate them securely over a period of at least five years and to respond to new threats. It is precisely here that many manufacturers face organisational and technical challenges. Companies wishing to approach the December 2027 deadline with confidence should already have defined a CRA roadmap, implemented initial measures and actively involved their suppliers in the process. Those who only begin implementation in 2027 will have hardly any time left to make the necessary organisational adjustments.

IEN Europe: Why is CRA Compliance so crucial and what are the main criteria to ensure it?
B. Günthner: For the first time, the CRA will make cybersecurity a mandatory product characteristic. From now on, it will no longer be enough to simply implement security functions. Manufacturers will need to demonstrate that they systematically ensure security throughout the entire product lifecycle. This is particularly important for companies, as compliance with the CRA will soon be a prerequisite for marketing many products in Europe. At the same time, customer expectations are rising. We are already seeing cybersecurity become an integral part of tenders and procurement processes.

In our view, the key prerequisites for compliance are a structured secure development process, complete transparency regarding the software components used, robust vulnerability management, and the ability to provide security updates throughout the intended lifecycle. The CRA thus transforms cybersecurity into an ongoing management task rather than a purely technical discipline.

IEN Europe: What can Kontron, as a hardware and software manufacturer, do to support customers in this complex environment?
B. Günthner: In our view, reducing complexity for the customer offers the greatest leverage. Many manufacturers are challenged by the need to implement new regulatory requirements, develop existing products further and drive innovation projects forward. That is why we are committed to a holistic 'CRA-ready' approach: a comprehensive ecosystem of hardware, software and services that considers key requirements from the outset.

This is based on robust and secure hardware platforms that already align with the technical component requirements of IEC 62443-4-2 up to Security Level 2. This means that cybersecurity is considered not only at the level of the operating system and customer application, but also during the selection, development and configuration of the underlying hardware platform.

This is the foundation upon which KontronGrid is built: our IoT device and fleet management application that enables the centralised management and secure operation of large device fleets. It enables edge devices distributed worldwide to be centrally registered, configured, monitored and managed throughout their entire lifecycle. Software and security updates, as well as native and container-based applications, can be rolled out in a controlled manner across entire device fleets. Encrypted remote connections are also available for operation, maintenance, servicing and fault analysis. This allows the security measures required by the Cyber Resilience Act to be implemented in a scalable and traceable way.

The KontronOS operating system enhances this infrastructure by providing key security features, including Secure Boot, secure update mechanisms, role-based access control, and containerisation. Together, these features provide customers with a technical foundation that already meets many CRA requirements. While the individual solutions work very well on their own, they are at their most powerful when working together: the hardware, KontronGrid, KontronOS and AI Shield are all seamlessly integrated.

We are also experiencing a significant increase in demand for consultancy and integration services. While many companies have excellent product expertise, they need help translating regulatory requirements into concrete development and operational processes. Using our CRA scoring system, we work with customers to assess their current status. In accompanying CRA workshops, we develop practical 'security-by-design' concepts and support the efficient integration of compliance requirements into existing development environments.

IEN Europe: At Hannover Messe 2026, a cyber-secure, scalable, pre-configured industrial hardware gateway solution was introduced. The partners in this collaboration are TeamViewer (software), Kontron (hardware and operating system) and Bechtle (service). Can we expect more developments like this in the near future?
https://www.ien.eu/article/teamviewer-germany-gmbh-automation-needs-secure-access-using-agentless-software-to-build-an-industrial-gateway-solution/

B. Günthner: We certainly expect so. The requirements of modern industrial environments are becoming increasingly complex. Issues such as cybersecurity, remote access, lifecycle management, compliance and cloud integration must now be considered as an integrated whole. The gateway project presented at Hannover Messe is a great example of how different areas of expertise can collaborate. While Kontron provides the hardware and operating system, TeamViewer contributes secure remote access technology and Bechtle contributes its service and integration expertise. This results in a pre-configured, end-to-end solution for customers that can be implemented much more quickly than a bespoke system.
We are generally observing a trend towards such ecosystems. Customers are increasingly expecting fully integrated solutions that consider security, management, operation and compliance from the outset. This approach will be especially important in the CRA environment, where regulatory requirements affect the entire product life cycle.

IEN Europe: Once the 'CRA-summit' has been reached successfully, how should digital product manufacturers position themselves to keep up with current requirements and also to prepare for future changes and further regulatory requirements?
B. Günthner: The CRA should not be viewed as an end goal, but rather as the starting point for a new generation of digital products. Companies that successfully implement the requirements are simultaneously laying the foundations for future regulatory developments. We believe that the focus will increasingly shift from ad hoc to continuous compliance. Issues such as vulnerability management, secure updates, lifecycle protection and security monitoring will become permanent aspects of product responsibility.

At the same time, new regulatory requirements are emerging. In addition to the CRA, we are observing developments relating to the NIS2 Directive, the AI Act, the Machinery Regulation (EU 2023/1230) and the EU Data Act, as well as other sector-specific requirements. Companies will therefore benefit from an integrated ecosystem comprising hardware, software, services, platforms and processes that can respond flexibly to new requirements. In the long term, cybersecurity will become a key quality indicator. Customers will expect security, transparency, and the capacity for updates to be standard features of a product.

IEN Europe: As an experienced manufacturer of hardware and software: Could you give our readers an educated guess as to how physical AI will change industrial production environments in the coming years?
B. Günthner: We are currently witnessing a development in which artificial intelligence is being integrated directly into machines, industrial processes and plants. Physical AI enables machines to actively interact with the physical world and support real-time decision-making by analysing data. High-performance edge platforms are becoming increasingly important in this context. Data must be processed where it is generated, whether that be in a machine, a production system or a vehicle. This reduces latency, meets data protection requirements more effectively and enables processes to be designed to be more autonomous.

We expect Physical AI to lead to significant advances, particularly in areas such as predictive maintenance, quality control, robotics, and autonomous production processes. However, as autonomy increases, so does the importance of cybersecurity. When AI systems are making operational decisions, it is crucial that companies can ensure the underlying data, models and software components are trustworthy. This is why issues such as cyber resilience, secure software updates and lifecycle management will become increasingly important in future.
 

Many production facilities already generate the data they need for anaysis but make only limited use of its potential. The Mitsubishi Electric DataNavigateApp provides direct access to production and energy data through a standard web browser, making it available for analysis and optimization without additional engineering or programming. The data is accessed directly from the machine. Running directly on the MELSEC iQ-R C Intelligent Function Module, the software turns the controller into a plug-and-play analytics tool that provides real-time insights.

Installation is carried out using an SD memory card. Once installed, the analytics functions can be accessed through a standard web browser on a PC, tablet or other browser-enabled device. No additional HMI hardware or knowledge of PLC, ladder logic or C programming is required.

Machine performance at a glance

The DataNavigateApp combines time-based operating analysis, energy evaluation, cycle-time monitoring and alarm analysis in a single application. Preconfigured graphical dashboards present production and energy data clearly and support comparisons between different periods, machines or operating conditions. This helps users identify causes of downtime, reveal energy losses and prioritize targeted optimization measures. The solution also supports predictive maintenance strategies by detecting changes in plant behavior at an early stage. It therefore provides companies with a practical starting point for improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and progressively digitalizing production operations.

Integration into existing environments

The DataNavigateApp visualizes data from the connected controller. Support for standardized communication protocols enables the PLC to collect information from Mitsubishi Electric systems as well as third-party equipment and systems and make it available to the app. Existing production data can be used without extensive changes to current PLC programs. This makes the solution particularly suitable for brownfield installations and heterogeneous machine fleets.

A scalable approach to digital production

Companies can begin with a single machine or production line and expand the application step by step as required. Many manufacturers already have the data they need. The challenge is to turn that information into actionable insight for the shop floor. Here the DataNavigateApp provides a straightforward route into production analytics and establishes a basis for informed decisions.
 

With MATCH CONTROL, WACHEN­DORFF Pro­zess­technik expands its MATCH product line with a specialised platform for industrial panel PCs that integrates control and operation functions within a single system. The solutions are aimed at machine and plant manufacturers as well as operators of industrial production facilities requiring compact, robust and flexible HMI solutions.

The series combines panel PCs with control elements for efficient HMI concepts in machine and plant engineering. The panel PCs integrate high-performance computing technology with physical control elements such as push-buttons, switches or emergency stop functions. The available display sizes are between 15,0 and 21,5" with TFT-LCD, they offer projected capacitive touchscreens and Intel CPUs from Celeron J6412 to Intel® Core i5 11. Generation, with up to 64 GB DDR4. The interfaces delivered are 4 × USB3.0/2.0/1.0 and 2 x RS232/485 (optional), 2 x 3-pin Phoenix connectors, additionally 2 x Intel 1000Mbps Ethernet, optional upgrade to 4 x Intel 1000Mbps Ethernet.

Multiple integration options

The systems are designed for industrial environments and are suitable for direct installation on machines or support arm systems through their anodized aluminium housing and fanless cooling. The various display sizes and form factors enable precise integration. The modular control elements offer a variety of options: illuminated push-buttons, selector switches, emergency stop and more. There is a maximum of nine integrable features for the 21.5" size. The units can operate from 0 °C to +50 °C and in humidity between 5 to 95 % at 40 °C (non-condensing). The shock resistance during operation is 10 g peak acceleration (duration 11 ms), in accordance with IEC 60068-2-27.

The certification of the Deuta IconTrust® HMI confirms that the system can display safety-related data up to SIL 3 and process safety-related touch inputs up to SIL 2. This certification marks the successful completion of an intensive development, verification and testing phase.

The digital human-machine interface – IconTrust® HMI – is designed for safety-related display and control tasks. This globally unique SIL3 solution is certified to EN 61508 and offers ‘Security by Design’. The solution is particularly relevant for applications where functional safety, traceable process versioning and efficient adaptability to changes throughout a plant’s lifecycle come together.

New look without rewiring

In many plants within the process industry, illuminated panels, switches and individually wired signals are still in use. Whilst these have long proved their worth, they quickly reach their limits when changes, maintenance or retrofitting are required: signals must be wired individually, messages assigned manually and information frequently looked up in the manual. IconTrust® HMI transfers these tasks to a digital interface. Safety-related display and control elements can be created there via a web-based configuration and adapted to specific projects. Useful information for day-to-day operations can be made available digitally, without any loss of time caused by working with analogue manuals.

The system is designed as a PROFINET/PROFIsafe field unit and is used as a fixed-location safety control unit. The PLC remains in control: the safety controller determines which information is displayed. IconTrust® HMI displays the relevant content securely through independent monitoring of the defined display areas.

For applications in the pharmaceutical and process industries, options include alarm panels, recipe and batch selection, process value display, operating mode selection, step sequences (Standard Operating Procedures), bypass/bridging (Maintenance Override Switch) and hybrid operation with SIL and non-SIL content. The user interface can utilise text, icons, graphics and colours to provide a clearer understanding of statuses and required actions. In this way, individual signals are transformed into more comprehensible information within the plant context.

While the AI boom has made robots significantly more capable, the accompanying safety infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. Traditional 2D laser scanners, which are widely used to define safety perimeters for most mobile robotic systems, are unable to detect people and obstacles above or below a single plane.

Designed for autonomous mobile robots and industrial automation, ADAR One delivers 180°×180° 3D spatial awareness, detecting people and obstacles at all heights, eliminating the limitations and blind spots that define today's 2D safety systems. Easy integration with a tiny footprint enables ADAR (acoustic detection and ranging) technology to be embedded flush into virtually any robot form factor, including humanoids.

ADAR One is already in series production and shipping on deployed industrial robots. Since the introduction of the beta version of ADAR one year ago, more than 80 global robotics companies have rigorously evaluated ADAR through Sonair's test program within. For many, safety certification is the moment they have been waiting for. ‍

The certification

ADAR One was assessed as a human protection sensor according to the very demanding IEC 61496 standard for electrosensitive protection devices. In addition, the product meets two foundational standards: IEC 61508, the functional safety standard for electronic safety systems in high-risk industrial environments, and ISO 13849, the universal standard for safety-related parts of control systems.

The result: ADAR is rated SIL 2, (Safety Integrity Level 2) and PL d (Performance Level d) with a probability of dangerous failure (PFH) below 1.5 x 10^⁻7 per hour.

ADAR has received an EC type-examination certificate from exida, a notified body under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. In addition to the above-mentioned standards, exida has assessed ADAR’s conformity to the essential health and safety requirements from the European machine directive.

Furthermore, ADAR is the first safety-certified embedded system to be built in Rust, a programming language especially designed for performance, safety, and reliability. 

Availability‍

ADAR One, the safety-certified variant designed for autonomous robots and machine safety applications requiring SIL 2, PL d compliance, is available now. The ADAR test kit is available for engineers evaluating 3D ultrasonic sensing for new or existing safety use cases. 
 

After over a decade of research and development in waterjet technology, Novajet was established as a spin-off from Chemnitz University of Technology in 2019. The company's founders had spent many years working on improving waterjet performance, developing a solution that enables even the smallest structures to be reliably cut using a waterjet. This resulted in the creation of micro-waterjet systems for precision waterjet cutting. The Chemnitz-based company also offers waterjet cutting services. However, as they began receiving an increasing number of enquiries for tasks beyond precision cutting, they started using waterjet cutting systems from other manufacturers for these services. While running these systems, the experts identified various opportunities for optimisation and energy savings. However, to make these transparent and actionable, they needed digital process and energy data. By analysing and comparing this data, they were able to identify various potential savings. They concluded that condition monitoring, preventive maintenance and energy consumption would also benefit from such a solution. However, the effort and costs involved in integration would need to be proportionate to the benefits. In their search for an easy-to-retrofit digitalisation solution for process and energy data monitoring, they found what they were looking for in in.hub. The company offers smart IoT and IIoT devices for the digitalisation of industrial machinery and processes.

Digitising expertise

The cutting nozzle is one of the most important components in waterjet cutting. The Chemnitz-based team identified this area as having the greatest potential for cost savings. Due to the waterjet and the abrasive used, depending on the application, cutting nozzles undergo natural wear and tear. They must therefore be replaced at regular intervals. An experienced machine operator can assess the condition of a cutting nozzle by the sound it makes and take action if necessary. However, as long as people are so closely involved in the manufacturing process, it remains a craft and is difficult to automate. In this context, it also makes sense to digitise expert knowledge. One reason for this is the shortage of skilled workers, and another is that the systems are expected to operate reliably around the clock, including during 'ghost shifts'. Markus Dittrich, owner of Novajet GmbH, reports: 'Through our research, we had already gathered extensive expertise on how to assess the condition of our systems using various process parameters. We were then looking for someone to help us turn this knowledge into solutions suitable for industrial use.' In.hub was able to provide general support in the form of a plug-and-play solution for retrofitting process data and energy monitoring technology via appropriate IIoT gateways. The company also offers various tools for specific challenges, such as the HUB-VM102. This device continuously monitors vibrations in machines and components in industrial settings.

Gradual retrofitting of digitalisation using a modular approach

Christian Groß, Managing Director of in.hub GmbH, explains: 'The typical trigger for retrofitting a plant with digitalisation is energy management. At Novajet, however, things were slightly different. Here, the initial requirement was for a vibration monitoring solution. In both cases, however, the right tools are needed for fundamental digitalisation retrofitting, which enables various solutions to be used.” To capture, process and analyse machine and process data, a suitable gateway is first required for this use case. Novajet uses the HUB-GM200 for this purpose. Connected to the machine’s Siemens S7 controller via the integrated S7 PLC client, it monitors critical components together with additional sensors or expansion modules. The make and year of manufacture of the machine, or the type of controller, are generally irrelevant for integration purposes, as the gateways can easily be connected to almost any system via standard interfaces using plug-and-play. Groß adds: 'We’re all familiar with the USB interface on a PC, which allows all sorts of devices to be easily connected. Our aim was to develop a similarly simple solution for the industrial sector.”

Integration works so seamlessly thanks to the in.hub operating system, which was developed specifically for IoT environments. It offers pre-configured functions for independently implementing IIoT projects. The operating system and all pre-configured functions are pre-installed on the in.hub IoT gateway and are also available to download as an app. Set-up requires no coding or programming whatsoever. Depending on the customer’s requirements, all process data can then be stored in a local database or in the cloud. The waterjet cutting experts use MaDoW (Monitor and Downtime Watch) to visualise the process data. Here, the collected machine data is visualised in real time. System downtime, anomalies and efficiency figures can be clearly viewed. Dittrich reports: “What impresses me most is how incredibly easy the digitalisation integration was. It only took a few minutes to install the gateway, software and vibration measurement module, and set up the visualisation.”

Retrofit of structure-borne noise measurement for cutting nozzle

The waterjet experts had more work to do when analysing the structure-borne noise measurement data. This data is complex and requires specialist knowledge. Dittrich's many years of research were an asset here. Combined with real-world operational data, it allowed Novajet to develop parameters for determining wear and tear on the cutting nozzles. This allows alarms to be triggered when the cutting nozzles are no longer functioning properly, enabling production to be halted immediately to avoid scrap. On the other hand, it enables preventive maintenance. Dittrich explains: 'Without analysis, it is difficult to say how long a cutting nozzle will last. Their lifespan varies significantly, ranging from around 15 to 50 hours. Now, the nozzles no longer need to be replaced preventatively, but only once they are actually worn out. This brings immense savings.' 
However, as analysing structure-borne sound data is complex and requires specialist expertise, in.hub is currently developing an app for standard applications involving pumps and fans to simplify this process. In the meantime, the waterjet cutting experts are offering their retrofitting expertise to other operators of waterjet cutting systems. 'If you’re interested, we can handle the retrofitting of a system, including the relevant tools, data analysis and associated visualisation,' reports Dittrich.

Energy management and more

Novajet also found the modular approach, which allows various digitalisation solutions to be introduced step by step, to be extremely useful. Once the structure-borne noise measurement had been implemented, the question arose as to how energy efficiency could be improved. To this end, they installed the HUB-EN200, an add-on module for energy monitoring. Only by comparing process and energy data can one decide whether high consumption levels are technically justified or indicate anomalies. The air management system (AMS from SMC), which was already in use for the compressed air systems, was also integrated into the analysis via the EN200. As SMC is an in.hub partner, this integration works via simple plug-and-play. This information makes it possible to see precisely when specific energy consumption occurs and to cross-reference it with the control data, thereby enabling discrepancies to be detected at an early stage. Compressors are often situated out of the way due to the noise they generate, making them easily overlooked. However, leaks can quickly lead to significant compressed air losses. As the production of compressed air is energy-intensive, this leads to high energy losses. These can now be detected directly using the digitalised solution. Christian Groß sums up: "Many users are unaware of the condition and productivity of their plant because they cannot record the relevant OEE metrics. However, they shy away from digitalisation because they are put off by the effort involved. With our solutions, however, you can get started with little effort.” Many plant operators start with digital solutions for energy management, then develop further ideas about what else they could monitor once digitalisation has been implemented in one area. However, it is also possible to take a different approach, as Novajet has done. No matter which starting point you choose, in.hub’s modular solutions enable you to create a digitalised system in a short space of time and with minimal effort as part of a retrofit.
 

Com­pa­nies face the major chal­lenge of en­sur­ing re­li­able com­mu­ni­ca­tion within their plants. In re­cent years, IO-Link has be­come in­creas­ingly es­tab­lished as an in­dus­trial com­mu­ni­ca­tion so­lu­tion for si­mul­ta­ne­ously trans­mit­ting mul­ti­ple process val­ues and pa­ra­me­ters from a sin­gle de­vice via an un­shielded stan­dard cable. How­ever, it is not only the IO‑Link sen­sors and ac­tu­a­tors in­stalled in the sys­tems that play a key role. The IO-Link mas­ter is the cen­tral in­ter­face be­tween the con­troller and the sen­sors in the field. 

With the new generation of its AutomationLine AL1602 IO-Link master ifm is taking IO-Link integration to a new level of performance.

A new generation of decentralised automation

With its black, glass-fibre-reinforced upper housing, the AL1602 IO-Link master represents a new generation of decentralised automation solutions. It offers a multiprotocol interface with eight IO-Link ports (Class A/B) and a total of 16 flexibly configurable inputs and outputs. With a current rating of up to 2 A per output, it is particularly suitable for powerful actuators such as those used in the logistics sector. The housing and the fully overmoulded circuit board ensure a high level of durability, making the AL1602 resistant to both condensation and vibration. With IP67 protection rating and a temperature range of -40 to 70°C, the device is suitable even for use in harsh industrial environments. The new plastic ports offer higher tightening forces than the previous metal ports of the AL14 series. The common ground concept enables simple and flexible port configuration, supporting compact and cost-efficient device operation. The integrated daisy-chain function allows multiple IO-Link masters to be supplied with power easily, significantly reducing wiring effort. 

Integrated multiprotocol interface

Of particular practical relevance is the integrated multiprotocol interface, which allows the IO-Link master to be easily integrated into various fieldbus architectures. Initially, PROFINET and EtherNet/IP are available. The interface supports the level of standardisation frequently required in mechanical and plant engineering, reduces variant diversity and sustainably minimises engineering effort. The new AL1602, which is already available, can be seamlessly combined with the AL2821 I/O module to implement an IO-Link extension, for example.

The igus Iggy Rob Industrial and the Iggy Rob Home are based on the same technical platform. Instead of two legs, the two humanoids use an autonomous mobile robot base (AMR), the ReBeLMove Pro, which has a load capacity of up to 250kg. This is due to practical considerations. Mobile vehicles have proven themselves in industry and buildings, can be integrated safely and are comparatively easy to incorporate into existing environments in a CE-compliant way. For many real applications, a running system with legs is currently neither necessary nor economically viable. 

Depending on the configuration, the robots are between 1.30 and 1.70 metres high, have 16 DOF (degrees of freedom) for natural movements, achieve up to eight hours of autonomous running time and navigate with the help of LIDAR and 3D camera systems. By default, both variants have two igus ReBeL robot arms with a load capacity of 2.5kg each. Alternatively, cobots from other manufacturers or humanoid hands can also be integrated. Iggy Rob is designed as an open platform. It is controlled via ROS 2; end effectors and sensors can be customised or extended. The systems are CE-certified and prepared for fleet operation in accordance with VDE 5050.

Focus on service, education and interaction

The Iggy Rob Industrial was presented back in spring 2025. It is designed for use in production and logistics environments, where it performs typical tasks such as transporting goods, machine loading or simple assembly work. With the Iggy Rob Home, igus is now extending this technology to applications outside of traditional industrial environments for the first time. These include reception and information areas, education and research, catering and a wide range of service activities in buildings. However, it is also suitable for industrial pick & place tasks, in-house material transport or transport at changing stations. In addition, it serves as an ideal platform for AI training, data acquisition as well as educational and research purposes at universities and institutes.

The hardware of the Iggy Rob Home is based on the same industrial platform as the industrial model, but has been specifically enhanced with functions that are more focussed on interaction and service. Examples are quieter motion profiles, a display for showing simple facial expressions and preconfigured service functions. An integrated linear axis also increases the arms' working range. Furthermore, a back basket with a load capacity of up to 50kg is available for transporting objects. An incorporated 3D camera ensures reliable object recognition as well as precise gripping and navigation tracking. Thanks to wireless charging, the robot can be operated without interruption and seamlessly integrated into modern robotics environments via the ROS 2 interface. For maximum flexibility the Iggy Rob Home can be equipped with different end effectors, including suction pads, two- or three-finger grippers and a bionic hand with incorporated gripper recognition.

Mobility meets intelligence

Thanks to an intuitive programming interface, the Iggy Rob Home can be used and operated quickly even without in-depth robotics knowledge. The strong system architecture ensures reliable operation. The Iggy Rob Home combines mobility with intelligent automation and opens up new possibilities for humanoid robotics in everyday life. Thanks to the Dynamic Mission Data Interface software add-on, missions can be started via the network and data exchanged bidirectionally in real time. This allows for dynamic interaction with external AI systems within a mission. Mechanics, electronics and software are developed entirely by igus in Cologne and Commonplace Robotics by igus in Osnabrück, so that customised adaptations and further developments can be coordinated effortlessly. 

Test before purchase

The igus principle of "test before you invest" applies to both Iggy Rob variants. Users can test the systems in their own environment and evaluate the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness together with igus. This allows for realistic assessment of potential and limits at an early stage.

In industries such as motorsport, aviation, industry and research, motion simulator systems have long been more than just training equipment. They serve as a development platform, test bench and analysis tool. Whether racing drivers, pilots or engineers – they all rely on realistic motion sequences, reproducible conditions and reliable technology to optimise processes, increase safety and precisely determine performance limits.

This is exactly where Prosimu comes in. The French company develops highly dynamic motion simulators that realistically simulate complex physical situations. The aim is maximum precision, high resilience and uncompromising reliability, because these characteristics determine the success of training, development and research in all of Prosimu's target industries. Prosimu also places correspondingly high demands on the connection technology for its simulators. To ensure long-term, trouble-free operation, the company relies on connection solutions from LAPP, the global market leader for integrated solutions in the field of cable and connection technology.

Holistic system expertise for realistic simulators

Since its founding 15 years ago, Prosimu has pursued a holistic development approach. All components of the simulators – from the mechanics and electronics to the control software – are developed in-house and coordinated with each other. This consistent control over the value chain enables high-precision simulator systems with precisely synchronised processes. “Our goal is to replicate real-life situations as accurately as possible. This is the only way to create a valid basis for development and training," explains Patrick Kubieniec, CEO & Founder PROSIMU® Motion Simulation Systems.

Prosimu's headquarters and production centre are located in Le Mans. This is where chassis, actuators and electronic systems are developed and assembled. „The proximity to the race track is no geographical coincidence,“ says Patrick Kubieniec. „It represents our practical approach and a technical environment in which precision, resilience and reliability are a matter of course.“ In addition to its location in France, Prosimu has a branch in Canada and an international partner network that supports users worldwide.

At the heart of the product portfolio are powerful actuators that combine high dynamics with fine-resolution precision. These are complemented by rigid, low-vibration chassis designs, robust electronics and specially tuned control software. All components work together seamlessly to form the technical backbone of the simulators. Depending on the application, the systems can be scaled from static configurations to fully mobile platforms with multiple degrees of freedom. They are thus designed to meet the ever-growing demands of professional use.

When EMC becomes a key issue

The high dynamics of the simulator systems challenge not only the mechanics and software, but above all the electrical connection technology.

Multiple actuators, sensors and electronic components work together in a confined space. High currents, fast switching operations and constant movement encounter sensitive signal transmission and precise control loops. In this environment, electromagnetic compatibility becomes a design necessity. Even minor interference can distort measured values or impair the synchronisation of the motion axes. It became clear to Prosimu that connection technology is not a downstream component here, but an integral part of the system architecture.

„Initially, we found that conventional solutions did not meet all of our requirements,“ explains Patrick Kubieniec. Electromagnetic interference in particular showed how sensitive high-precision motion systems are to the quality of cables and cable assemblies. „It became clear to us that we needed to ensure EMC and signal quality with specialised connection technology,“ says Patrick Kubieniec. 

The company was looking for a solution that would reduce electromagnetic interference, withstand continuous mechanical stress and be manufactured to a consistent quality – for long-term reliable operation.

Customised connection technology for maximum system stability

In order to permanently meet the defined requirements for EMC, mechanical resilience and consistently high quality, Prosimu relies on connection solutions from LAPP. Among other things, ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 110 series cables and pre-assembled cable sets from LAPP Harnessing Solutions are used, which are specially designed for dynamic applications and the compact design of the systems. Optimised shielding concepts help to minimise electromagnetic interference. At the same time, robust designs and structured cable routing ensure the mechanical stability of the systems, which is crucial to the success of projects involving moving, space-critical architectures.

„LAPP's solutions give us the assurance that signal quality and reliability are consistently guaranteed even under high dynamic loads,“ comments Patrick Kubieniec. „At the same time, we benefit from consistent execution quality and close technical coordination with our dedicated contacts at LAPP.“ 

The pre-assembled cable sets reduce potential sources of error, support efficient assembly processes and ensure reproducible results in series production. In addition to the technical quality, Prosimu values LAPP's consistently high quality of execution and delivery reliability. „This is the only way to ensure stable manufacturing processes and professional use of our simulators,“ adds Patrick Kubieniec. 

Precision begins in the details

What is barely visible in the overall view of a motion simulator determines its performance in detail: high-quality connection technologies create the conditions for stable control loops, clean signal transmission and long-term operational reliability.

For Prosimu, this means combining the high dynamics of its systems with an equally reliable electrical infrastructure. This requirement was constructively implemented with tailor-made solutions from LAPP Harnessing Solutions. For Prosimu, the collaboration with LAPP went beyond the mere delivery of products. Together, the two companies analysed the specific requirements of the simulator systems, particularly with regard to electromagnetic compatibility, dynamic loads and reproducible quality. This resulted in connection solutions that are precisely tailored to the architecture and operating conditions of Prosimu's simulators and effectively reduce the previously existing EMC challenges.

„We particularly appreciate LAPP's partnership-based approach and the professional exchange on an equal footing,“ emphasises Patrick Kubieniec. "Today, LAPP's connection solutions make a significant contribution to the stability and performance of our simulators. They create the conditions for interference-free signal transmission, robust and standardised processes and, as a result, realistic simulators that our customers in motorsport, aviation, industry and research alike depend on."

This closes the circle: where milliseconds determine significance and training success, stable connection technology forms the invisible foundation.
 

Whether in offshore and maritime applications, in traditional drilling, surface and underground mining or in steel production: The strengths of steel come into play where high additional loads, extensive unsupported lengths and defined motion patterns in challenging conditions are required. “At the same size, a steel cable carrier allows for a higher possible additional load per meter,” explains Jochen Becker, Director Sales at TSUBAKI KABELSCHLEPP. “At the same time, greater unsupported lengths can be implemented.”

Temperature as the primary deciding factor 

While TSUBAKI KABELSCHLEPP always aims to advise users without any material dogma, the available range becomes significantly smaller at continuous temperatures of more than 150 °C. Steel cable carriers made of ER1S material are designed for up to 550 °C and therefore predestined for applications where heat is part of regular operation.

TSUBAKI KABELSCHLEPP offers a wide range of steel cable carriers. The weight-optimised LS and LSX series are designed for applications with greater dynamics. With eleven types and pitches between 65 and 550 millimetres, the S and SX series cover a large range of applications. And for processes with high thermal strain, the S and SX Tube series offer additional protection against hot ash, slag and sparks.

From a single component to a tested system

Users benefit not only from the product quality, but also from the option of purchasing a steel cable carrier as a fully harnessed complete system, because as the complexity of systems and machines increases, so does the planning, installation and commissioning work for the cable carriers. And this is exactly where the TOTALTRAX solutions from TSUBAKI KABELSCHLEPP come into play. The steel cable carrier is delivered ready for installation, including all cables, hoses, inner distribution, add-on parts and, if requested and technically feasible, push-in connections. For users, this means fewer interfaces, less coordination and fewer sources of error. 

The advantages of these complete solutions become evident in day-to-day project work: a single point of contact during ordering reduces delays and streamlines the process. The system warranty offers complete quality assurance, while the in-house installation resources saved are available for the core business, relieving personnel and planning.
 

The assembly of drag chains is considered challenging. Different cables for different media must operate side by side, and under heavy continuous use. To ensure functionality and reliability, it helps to keep installation costs low. TKD Kabel offers solutions based on One Cable Technology (OCT). This technology combines the transmission of energy and digital feedback signals in a single cable. This saves space, time, and costs, as only one cable needs to be ordered, laid, and stored.

Designed for high demands

The KAWEFLEX® 5288 OCT hybrid cable series from TKD Kabel is designed for use in drag chains, where it serves as a connection between servo controllers and motors, among other applications. As low-capacitance cables, they ensure stable feedback transmission over long distances without signal distortion. A tinned copper braid reliably shields the cores against electromagnetic interference. Thanks to their compact design and special stranding technology, the cables are not only lightweight. Compared to conventional servo cables, KAWEFLEX® 5288 OCT can reduce installation requirements by up to 50 percent.

The OCT design is built for robust use. It is temperature-resistant up to 90°C and stable against oil and, to a large extent, against greases, coolants, and lubricants. The service life of these RoHS-compliant cables is high, with up to 10 million bending cycles. KAWEFLEX® 5288 OCT comprises more than 15 different hybrid cable types, which enable minimum bending radii of up to 5x d. 

Ready-to-use assemblies

The cables in the KAWEFLEX® 5288 OCT series are available in assemblies for the protocols of the six most important drive systems. With its CONNECTivity assembly service, TKD Kabel offers cables that can be purchased ready for connection. Servo assemblies for leading manufacturer standards are available directly from stock, especially for motor and feedback cables. 
 

The growth of data trans­mis­sion con­tin­ues to ac­cel­er­ate rapidly. This is due to the in­creased use of image and video data, the grow­ing use of AI ap­pli­ca­tions and cloud ser­vices, and on­go­ing dig­i­tal­iza­tion.

The an­nual sta­tis­tics from DE-CIX, a Ger­man in­ter­net ex­change point with glob­ally dis­trib­uted data ex­change points, are a key in­di­ca­tor of in­ter­na­tional data ex­change de­vel­op­ment. In 2024, DE-CIX recorded 68 ex­abytes of global data traf­fic, a 15 per­cent in­crease from 2023's 59 ex­abytes. The daily record in­creased from 22.36 to 24.92 ter­abits per sec­ond (an 11.4 per­cent in­crease).

Fiber op­tics: yes, but...?

This enor­mous growth is only pos­si­ble thanks to the in­creas­ing use of fiber-optic con­nec­tions, which pro­vide high band­widths with low la­tency. Ad­vances in trans­mis­sion stan­dards and con­nec­tors en­able the more ef­fi­cient use of in­di­vid­ual fibers and eas­ier bundling in lim­ited spaces.

Fiber op­tics are al­ready stan­dard in data cen­ters, and house­holds and busi­nesses are in­creas­ingly switch­ing from cop­per to fiber op­tics. How­ever, there are still areas where this light­weight, fast tech­nol­ogy has not been adopted be­cause it is con­sid­ered dif­fi­cult to han­dle in some sit­u­a­tions.

Tran­si­tions from one fiber to the next are sen­si­tive to dirt and mois­ture. Me­chan­i­cal stress and vi­bra­tions can also im­pair or in­ter­rupt data trans­mis­sion. High tem­per­a­tures and fre­quent plug­ging cy­cles are also con­sid­ered ar­gu­ments against using fiber optic ca­bles.

There­fore, in harsh en­vi­ron­ments, users often rely on es­tab­lished cop­per ca­bling. This is the case in heav­ily con­t­a­m­i­nated en­vi­ron­ments, which occur in some areas of the man­u­fac­tur­ing in­dus­tries.

...​of course!

The prin­ci­ple of beam ex­pan­sion was a first step to­wards more ro­bust fiber optic con­nec­tors. This prin­ci­ple was fur­ther op­ti­mized with the EBO (Ex­panded Beam Op­ti­cal) fer­rule con­cept (see below: "The Prin­ci­ple of Beam Ex­pan­sion").

Next came the ro­bust EBM (Ex­panded Beam Mul­ti­fiber) se­ries of con­nec­tor sys­tems. The S-RMC and MIL13 con­nec­tors are ruggedi­zed con­nec­tors de­vel­oped in-house by Rosen­berger Hochfre­quen­ztech­nik in ac­cor­dance with cur­rent in­dus­try stan­dards. They com­bine ro­bust EBO sig­nal trans­mis­sion with sta­ble and in­sen­si­tive hous­ings. In­side, fer­rules can ac­com­mo­date be­tween two and 16 sin­gle-mode or mul­ti­mode fibers de­pend­ing on the ap­pli­ca­tion. These con­nec­tors elim­i­nate many con­cerns about using fiber op­tics in harsh en­vi­ron­ments.

• High re­sis­tance: The ro­bust EBM con­nec­tors are de­signed for harsh con­di­tions and can with­stand up to 5,000 mat­ing cy­cles.
• Sta­ble con­nec­tion: They pro­vide re­li­able, low-loss con­nec­tiv­ity with stan­dard­ized for­mats (SC foot­print).
• Plug-and-play: They en­able quick, in­tu­itive in­stal­la­tion with­out ex­ten­sive train­ing.
• Light­weight and com­pact: The con­nec­tor de­sign is op­ti­mized for high per­for­mance with min­i­mal space and weight re­quire­ments.
• Low main­te­nance: EBM con­nec­tors are easy to clean and do not re­quire spe­cial tools.
   

Chal­lenges in man­u­fac­tur­ing in­dus­try

Net­work com­po­nents in pro­duc­tion face var­i­ous chal­lenges, in­clud­ing ex­treme or highly fluc­tu­at­ing tem­per­a­tures, dust, dirt, liq­uids, chem­i­cals, vi­bra­tions, and me­chan­i­cal stress. At the same time, re­li­a­bil­ity is highly de­manded. Un­planned fail­ures or down­time re­sult in ex­ces­sive costs, so re­li­a­bil­ity is es­sen­tial. EBM con­nec­tors' plug-and-play de­sign and com­pact form fac­tors (S-RMC, MIL13) sim­plify in­stal­la­tion, min­i­mize main­te­nance, and re­duce sys­tem down­time. Their space-sav­ing de­sign, which ac­com­mo­dates 2 to 16 sin­gle-mode or mul­ti­mode fibers in a sin­gle con­nec­tor, takes into ac­count the con­fined con­di­tions in con­trol cab­i­nets and on switch­boards.

An­other chal­lenge is the grow­ing de­mand for band­width in fac­to­ries. On the one hand, the grow­ing dig­i­tal­iza­tion of fac­to­ries means that more sen­sors and ac­tu­a­tors need to be con­nected. Ad­di­tion­ally, the use of im­ages and video record­ings in the pro­duc­tion process is ris­ing sharply. This re­quires trans­mit­ting and pro­cess­ing in­creas­ingly large amounts of data, some­times in real time. This goes hand in hand with grow­ing au­toma­tion, in­clud­ing par­tially au­tonomous sys­tems. These sys­tems re­quire ad­di­tional ef­forts to main­tain safety and se­cu­rity. The re­sult­ing data vol­umes are best trans­mit­ted via fiber op­tics, which also min­i­mize la­tency.

Con­clu­sion

Fiber op­tics have sev­eral ad­van­tages, in­clud­ing high band­width, low weight, and in­sen­si­tiv­ity to elec­tro­mag­netic in­ter­fer­ence (EMI). For a long time, han­dling was a weak point, es­pe­cially in harsh en­vi­ron­ments. How­ever, these lim­i­ta­tions are now a thing of the past.

Fiber optic con­nec­tions can now be used with­out re­stric­tion, even in harsh en­vi­ron­ments, thanks to ro­bust con­nec­tors that use ex­panded beam op­ti­cal tech­nol­ogy for re­sis­tant sig­nal trans­mis­sion and can com­bine up to 12 fibers in a space-sav­ing man­ner. These con­nec­tors are also avail­able in stan­dard­ized form fac­tors.

The com­bi­na­tion of fiber op­tics and ro­bust con­nec­tors from Rosen­berger meets the spe­cific re­quire­ments of the man­u­fac­tur­ing in­dus­tries. This of­fers a fu­ture-proof al­ter­na­tive for ex­pand­ing the per­for­mance of data net­works while pro­vid­ing mis­sion-crit­i­cal re­li­a­bil­ity.

The con­nec­tors' re­silience, dura­bil­ity, and ease of han­dling also offer ef­fi­ciency ad­van­tages. These ad­van­tages re­sult from re­duced un­planned down­time and fol­low-up costs, as well as lower main­te­nance costs due to fewer main­te­nance cases and faster ser­vice case res­o­lu­tion.

The Prin­ci­ple of Beam Ex­pan­sion

In harsh en­vi­ron­ments and out­door ap­pli­ca­tions, en­sur­ing the re­li­a­bil­ity of fiber-optic con­nec­tions poses a par­tic­u­lar chal­lenge. Tra­di­tion­ally, sig­nals are trans­mit­ted from one fiber-optic cable to an­other via phys­i­cal con­tact (PC). For this method to work, the two fibers must be pre­cisely aligned, i.e., cen­tered and on a com­mon axis. Ad­di­tion­ally, the con­tact sur­face must be ex­tremely clean be­cause dust and dirt se­verely im­pair sig­nal trans­mis­sion. There is also a risk of scratch­ing the fiber-optic ends, which would af­fect their op­ti­cal prop­er­ties. Such con­nec­tions are also sen­si­tive to me­chan­i­cal stress and vi­bra­tions.

Thanks to ex­panded beam tech­nol­ogy, it is now pos­si­ble to cre­ate con­nec­tions that are less sen­si­tive to con­t­a­m­i­na­tion. Ta­pered spher­i­cal lenses at the end of the glass fibers ex­pand the bun­dled light beam over a larger area and re­fo­cus it on the other side. Rather than mak­ing di­rect con­tact with the glass fibers, the light trav­els through a free field zone be­tween the lenses. How­ever, it still trav­els par­al­lel to the glass fiber align­ment, so there is a risk of sig­nal weak­en­ing if the cen­ter­ing or align­ment angle is not main­tained ex­actly.

The EBO (Ex­panded Beam Op­ti­cal) plug con­cept is a sig­nif­i­cant ad­vance­ment. The ex­panded beam con­nec­tion widens the light beam dur­ing the tran­si­tion from one fiber to an­other, then re­fo­cuses it. This is not done along the axis of the glass fiber, how­ever, but rather via lenses with an el­lip­ti­cal cut. These lenses act like col­li­mat­ing de­flec­tion mir­rors, thus in­creas­ing the tol­er­ance range. This en­sures the light beams are cor­rectly aligned even when the glass fibers are not pre­cisely aligned due to vi­bra­tions or me­chan­i­cal stress. In­ter­fer­ence from par­ti­cles is also min­i­mized be­cause pollen or dirt that en­ters the sys­tem only blocks a small part of the en­larged light area. The light beam is no longer com­pletely blocked, but rather slightly at­ten­u­ated. There­fore, the abil­ity to trans­mit data is fully re­tained.

Au­thor: Harry Jacob, free­lance jour­nal­ist
 

WI­KA has ex­panded its level mea­sure­ment port­fo­lio with the ad­di­tion of the ILT radar sen­sor. This free-beam sen­sor en­ables non-con­tact level mea­sure­ment, even through the walls of plas­tic con­tain­ers. Its com­pact de­sign makes the ILT par­tic­u­larly suit­able for ap­pli­ca­tions where space is lim­ited. Man­u­fac­tur­ers can, for ex­am­ple, in­stall the sen­sor in mo­bile work­ing ma­chines or heat­ing sys­tems. Fur­ther­more, non-con­tact tech­nol­ogy en­ables high-pre­ci­sion mea­sure­ment of the level of par­ti­cle-con­tain­ing, highly vis­cous or solid ma­te­ri­als. Pos­si­ble ap­pli­ca­tions range from waste­water plants to all types of raw ma­te­r­ial con­tain­ers and fuels.

High-temperature version available

The ILT-C01 version is designed for a temperature range of -40 ... +100 °C, while the ILT-C05 version also covers high temperatures up to 150 °C. Metal shielding protects the sensor from interference caused by electrical fields in the environment. The instrument operates reliably even under adverse conditions such as dust, moisture and heat, and can tolerate vibrations and shocks of up to 100g. With up to two additional switch points, further switching outputs can be integrated, for example for overflow or dry run protection. Last but not least, the radar sensor ensures low operating costs, as it is maintenance-free thanks to its non-contact measuring principle and wear-free design.

AM­SYS is expanding its range of Ex-cer­ti­fied pres­sure trans­mit­ters, of­fer­ing a broader se­lec­tion for pres­sure mea­sure­ment in po­ten­tially ex­plo­sive at­mos­pheres. The com­pact ATEX-cer­ti­fied P.​Trace and P.​Core se­ries have re­cently been added to the port­fo­lio. At the same time, the wire­less Ex-trans­mit­ters U5601 and M5601 are being re­placed with the 65xxN-EX and 69xxN-EX se­ries. Trans­mit­ters for po­ten­tially ex­plo­sive at­mos­pheres are aimed at users who need to re­li­ably mea­sure pres­sure in gases, liq­uids, steam or de­mand­ing in­dus­trial en­vi­ron­ments. De­pend­ing on the ap­pli­ca­tion, dif­fer­ent con­cepts are avail­able:

Ceramic measurement cells

The new ATEX-certified P.Trace is a compact pressure transmitter with a ceramic measuring cell in a robust stainless steel housing. It is especially suited to industrial applications requiring media-resistant, space-saving and permanently reliable pressure measurement. With analog output signals such as 0-10 V, 1-10 V or 4-20 mA, P.Trace focuses on classic measured value output and can be easily integrated into existing systems.

P.Core complements this design as a compact ATEX pressure switch with two PNP-outputs and IO-Link. Beyond simple pressure measurement, the series offers switching and parameterization functions whose values can be integrated directly into automation systems. P.Core combines a ceramic measuring cell with a robust stainless-steel housing and is suitable, among other applications, for hydraulics, automation technology, pneumatics, vacuum technology and the packaging industry.

Different wireless communication ranges covered

For wireless applications in hazardous areas, the 65xxN-EX replaces the previous U5601 and M5601 series. The Bluetooth pressure transmitter is designed especially for the oil and gas industry as well as for industrial applications in hazardous areas in accordance with North American HazLoc standards, European ATEX and the international Ex zone system. It is suitable for monitoring liquid and gas pressure, even with demanding media such as contaminated water, steam or mildly corrosive liquids. With wetted parts made from 316L stainless steel, an IP66/IP67 housing, pressure ranges from 2 to 350 bar and simple smartphone configuration, the 65xxN-EX provides a modern solution for service, condition monitoring and measurement points that are difficult to access.

For longer ranges, the 69xxN-EX is available. Unlike the 65xxN-EX, this series uses LoRaWAN wireless communication and is therefore particularly suitable for decentralized measuring points in the oil and gas industry, for example pressure monitoring of oil wells, pipelines or extensive facilities. Configuration is also carried out via Bluetooth Low Energy. The 69xxN-EX is likewise available in HazLoc-certified variants, offers an IP66/IP67 housing and supports pressure ranges from 2 to 350 bar.

INELTA Sensorsysteme has played a key role in ad­vanc­ing the dig­i­ti­za­tion of proven LVDT tech­nol­ogy, par­tic­u­larly in hy­draulic ap­pli­ca­tions. Ap­ply­ing this con­cept to ad­di­tional de­signs and areas of use opens up new pos­si­bil­i­ties for in­dus­trial dis­place­ment mea­sure­ment. Users will ben­e­fit from greater flex­i­bil­ity, re­duced pro­cure­ment ef­fort, and sim­pli­fied in­ven­tory man­age­ment.

On-site parameterisation

The Dig­i­tal Lin­ear Vari­able Dif­fer­en­tial Trans­form­ers (LVDTs) can be con­fig­ured via soft­ware. To achieve this, IN­ELTA stores mul­ti­ple cus­tomer-spe­cific mea­sur­ing ranges within a sin­gle sen­sor type. Users can pa­ra­me­terise the sen­sor on-site to the mea­sur­ing range re­quired for a given ap­pli­ca­tion. In ad­di­tion, the char­ac­ter­is­tic curve can be shifted to com­pen­sate for in­stal­la­tion tol­er­ances. This elim­i­nates the need for sys­tem re­cal­i­bra­tion when re­plac­ing a sen­sor. Sig­nal in­ver­sion is also pos­si­ble.

Thanks to its scal­able pre­con­fig­u­ra­tion, a sin­gle dis­place­ment sen­sor re­places mul­ti­ple vari­ants and com­bines dif­fer­ent spec­i­fi­ca­tions in a sin­gle hous­ing. This en­ables IN­ELTA to make the ad­van­tages of dig­i­tal LVDT dis­place­ment sen­sors avail­able for ad­di­tional ap­pli­ca­tion areas and in­dus­tries. Sig­nif­i­cant cost-sav­ing po­ten­tial ex­ists, par­tic­u­larly in au­toma­tion tech­nol­ogy, but also in other in­dus­trial sec­tors where dif­fer­ent mea­sure­ment ranges and a min­i­mal num­ber of vari­ants are re­quired.

Micro-Epsilon has en­hanced its non-con­tact laser dis­tance sen­sor port­fo­lio with two new mod­els – a new ver­sion of the op­toN­CDT IL­R3800-100 with IO-Link, as well as a new ver­sion of the op­toN­CDT IL­R104x that of­fers an in­creased mea­sur­ing range up to 150 m

High resolution and repeatability

De­vel­oped in-house by Micro-Ep­silon, the op­toN­CDT ILR 3800-100 has a very high sig­nal sta­bil­ity on var­i­ous sur­faces. The sen­sor mea­sures ac­cu­rately on dif­fi­cult sur­faces such as dark, struc­tured or weakly re­flect­ing ob­jects. With­out any spe­cial adap­ta­tions to the tar­get, the sen­sor has an im­pres­sive range up to 100m. Adding a re­flec­tor to the tar­get ex­tends the range to 150m. 

In terms of its tech­ni­cal per­for­mance, the op­toN­CDT IL­R3800 is un­sur­passed in its field, pro­vid­ing ex­cel­lent re­peata­bil­ity (<300µm), res­o­lu­tion (0.1mm) and lin­ear­ity (< ± 1mm), re­sult­ing in ex­tremely sta­ble mea­sure­ments and ex­cel­lent sig­nal sta­bil­ity. The sen­sor’s small foot­print (102 x 53 x 50mm) and weight (254g) al­lows it to be eas­ily in­stalled in nar­row or re­stricted spaces in pro­duc­tion lines and ma­chines.

Cost effective performance, even at long distances

Also new to the op­toN­CDT ILR range is the op­toN­CDT IL­R1041-150-IO. This laser dis­tance sen­sor is par­tic­u­larly com­pact and now of­fers mea­sur­ing ranges of up to 150 m and has IO-Link as stan­dard. The sen­sor works ac­cord­ing to the time-of-flight prin­ci­ple and en­ables fast and re­li­able dis­tance mea­sure­ments against a re­flec­tor ap­plied to the tar­get. The mea­sur­ing prin­ci­ple is largely in­sen­si­tive to stray light and de­liv­ers sta­ble re­sults in strong ex­tra­ne­ous light of up to 50,000 lx. The ad­justable mea­sure­ment rate up to 333 Hz al­lows short re­sponse times for dy­namic processes. With a res­o­lu­tion of 1 mm, a lin­ear­ity of ± 20 mm and a re­pro­ducibil­ity of < 6 mm, the sen­sor of­fers ex­cel­lent mea­sure­ment ac­cu­racy – even over long dis­tances. Due to laser class 1, no ad­di­tional eye pro­tec­tion is re­quired in nor­mal op­er­a­tion.

Smart technology for Industry 4.0

The new optoNCDT ILR 3800-100-IO and optoNCDT ILR1041-150-IO are both equipped with an IO-Link interface. IO-Link is an open, standardised, fieldbus-independent digital interface (IEC 61131-9) that enables bi-directional communication between sensors and actuators down to the lowest field level. This makes it a key component of intelligent automation solutions and accelerates the implementation of Industry 4.0 through consistent data availability. Its fieldbus neutrality allows IO-Link to be easily integrated into established automation landscapes such as PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, or Modbus. It acts as an efficient bridge between analogue sensors and modern network control.

The optoNCDT ILR series is suitable for a wide range of applications, from transport, logistics and conveyor systems, to automation, metal processing, production monitoring and unmanned drones or vehicles. Other applications include the monitoring of large coil diameters, silo filling levels and gantry cranes. The combined long range and high accuracy of the sensor has also found benefits in the measurement and control of diameters for hot ring rolling.

Nord Drivesystems’ decentralised NORDAC ON frequency inverter now receives an extensive safety upgrade. In addition to STO and SS1, the safe motion functions SLS, SMS and SSM are now also integrated for fail-safe control of the rotary movement. The NORDAC ON thus not only features safe standstill functions (Safe Torque Off and Safe Stop 1) but also enables safe control of a drive solution’s speeds (Safety Limited Speed, Safe Maximum Speed and Safe Speed Monitor).

Safe control of speeds

The future variant of the decentralised frequency inverter can be integrated into a fail-safe application within an existing Industrial Ethernet network via PROFIsafe or FSoE. The desired Industrial Ethernet dialect is simply parameterised during commissioning. Stand-alone use is possible as well. The safe digital inputs and outputs of the inverter can be used to incorporate fail-safe peripheral components or functions. This enables the connection of, for example, emergency stop buttons, safety door switches or photoelectric sensors. Two safe one-channel digital inputs can be combined into one safe two-channel digital input and two safe outputs can be combined into one safe two-channel output.

Made for modern production environments

The decentralised NORDAC ON is characterised by its compact design and full plug-in capability. Thanks to its plug-and-play functionality, it significantly reduces the wiring effort and provides a maintenance-friendly, economical solution for modern production environments. It also features PLC on board for PLC and drive-related functions. It can process data from connected sensors and actuators, initiate control sequences and communicate drive and application data to the control centre, networked components or to cloud storage. NORDAC ON is available for a power range from 0.37 kW to 3.7 kW.
 

Kübler is expanding its range of precise and flexible encoders with the new Sendix K80I Performance-Line encoder. The solution was developed specifically for large shafts and impresses with a combination of high performance, compact size, and customizable programming. The unique feature of the encoder is its 42 mm hollow shaft in a compact housing measuring just 80 mm. The K80I delivers maximum accuracy and reliability, even in the most demanding applications, thanks to its high-resolution measurement of up to 36,000 pulses per revolution.

Individual programming

In addition to precision, the K80I stands out for its high flexibility. Key parameters such as resolution, counting direction, or zero pulse can be individually programmed both before and after installation. This allows companies to respond quickly to changing requirements without having to replace the encoders. With the Performance-Line for large shafts, the K80 complements the product range with the highest resolution, programmable parameters, and maximum flexibility, especially for demanding applications where precision and quick adaptability are crucial.

Another advantage is the 24one delivery commitment: Individually configured Encoders are manufactured and shipped within 24 hours. This not only guarantees high system availability but also maximum planning reliability for production processes. The new Sendix K80 Performance Line encoders integrate seamlessly into modern digital networks, offering a reliable and precise solution for a wide variety of industrial applications.